Back pain is a common experience for many, not that this is much comfort. It just means that this experience has a lot to do with how we live our modern lives. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimate that 1 in 6 Australians reported back problems in 2014-2015. That's 3.7 million people.
How did I get back pain?
Every person’s back pain is unique to them. The common factor with everybody is that the pain is related to the way that your bones, muscles, discs, tendons and ligaments are working together. The cause of your back pain may be serious such as a fracture, infection or cancer. Depending upon circumstances these are all possible but thankfully are not common.
The most common cause of back pain are simple activities of life:
- bending awkwardly
- lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling incorrectly
- slouching in chairs
- standing or bending down for long periods
- twisting
- overstretching
- driving in a hunched position
- driving for long periods without taking a break
- overuse of the muscles, usually due to sport or repetitive movements
(repetitive strain injury
Risk factors
Some conditions increase the risk that someone will develop back pain. These
include:
- being overweight – the extra weight puts pressure on the spine. Use the
healthy weight body mass index BMI calculator to find out if you need to lose
weight - smoking – this could be due to damage to tissue in the back caused by
smoking, or because smokers tend to have unhealthier lifestyles than
non-smokers - get help quitting here - being pregnant – carrying a baby means extra weight, which can place
additional strain on the back - long-term use of medicines that are known to weaken the bones, such as
corticosteroids - stress – it is thought that stress can cause tension in the muscles of the back,
which can cause back pain - depression – back pain can make people feel depressed, which can
sometimes result in weight gain leading to more severe pain and a cycle of
worsening depression.
How can back pain present?
- pain in the lower back that moves down the buttocks into one or both of the legs may be a symptom of sciatica (caused by pressure on the nerve endings that come out of the spine)
- soreness in the lower back, muscle weakness, tight muscles and loss of bladder control may be the result of a slipped disc
- back pain, buttock pain, swollen joints and tendons and extreme tiredness are common symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
- lower back pain, stiffness, numbness and tingling can be caused by spondylolisthesis (a bone in the spine slipping out of position)
- pain in the joints (including the back) when walking, and stiffness first thing in the morning are symptoms of arthritis
- painful stiffness of the shoulder, which makes it very difficult to dress, drive or sleep, may be a sign of a frozen shoulder
- neck pain and stiffness, headaches and lower back pain following an accident are common symptoms of whiplash.
The following serious conditions can also cause back pain:
- a broken bone in the spine
- an infection
- cancer
How Chiropractic can help you get Back Pain Relief
- Examination
The first and most important step is to evaluate if we can help you. We are well trained to conduct a thorough history followed by an orthopedic, neurological and physical examination.
If you have any imagery studies (X-ray, MRI, CT) already performed these are valuable. If you don't these may be requested if the history and examination deems this important to your case.
a - Provide a diagnosis
At the end of our examination we will be able to provide you with an accurate diagnosis in Moonee Ponds.
a - Plan a Course of Action
If after the examination, we can help you with the Course of action in Moonee Ponds. We will be able to give you:
a) A timeline of how long the process will take
b) The techniques we recommend
c) What you need to modify at home/work/gym/sport
d) Give you any necessary exercises and advice that assist recovery